Aki Kaurismäki
Directing
Born: April 4, 1957 (age 69) · Orimattila, Finland
Highest Rated
Biography
Aki Olavi Kaurismäki (Finnish: [ˈɑki ˈkɑu̯rismæki]; born April 4,1957; Orimattila) is a Finnish film director, screenwriter, producer, editor and actor. He is best known for the award-winning Drifting Clouds (1996), The Man Without a Past (2002), Le Havre (2011), The Other Side of Hope (2017) and Fallen Leaves (2023), as well as for the mockumentary Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989). He is described as Finland's best-known film director. He is the younger brother of director and screenwriter Mika Kaurismäki. After graduating in media studies from the University of Tampere, Kaurismäki worked as a bricklayer, postman, and dish-washer, long before pursuing his interest in cinema, first as a critic, and later as a screenwriter & director. He started his career as a co-screenwriter and actor in films made by his older brother, Mika Kaurismäki. He played the main role in Mika's film The Liar (1981). Together they founded the production company Villealfa Filmproductions and later the Midnight Sun Film Festival. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment (1983), an adaptation of Dostoyevsky's novel set in modern Helsinki. He gained worldwide attention with Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989). Kaurismäki's film Ariel (1988) was entered into the 16th Moscow International Film Festival where it won the Prix FIPRESCI. Kaurismäki's most acclaimed film has been The Man Without a Past, which won the Grand Prix and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category in 2003. However, Kaurismäki refused to attend the Oscar ceremony, asserting that he did not feel like partying in a country that was in a state of war. Kaurismäki's next film, Lights in the Dusk, was also chosen to be Finland's nominee for best foreign-language film, but Kaurismäki again boycotted the awards and refused the nomination, as a protest against U.S. President George W. Bush's foreign policy. In 2002 Kaurismäki also boycotted the 40th New York Film Festival in a show of solidarity with the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, who was not given a US visa in time for the festival. Kaurismäki's 2017 film The Other Side of Hope won the Silver Bear for Best Director award at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. At the same festival he also announced that it would be his last film, although the retirement was short-lived as he began filming Fallen Leaves in 2022, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.
Known for
Fallen Leaves
2023
Le Havre
2011
Shadows in Paradise
1986
The Man Without a Past
2002
Ariel
1988
The Other Side of Hope
2017
The Match Factory Girl
1990
I Hired a Contract Killer
1990
Drifting Clouds
1996
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
1989
Lights in the Dusk
2006
To Each His Own Cinema
2007
Photos (6)
Movies (15)
Shadows in Paradise
Hotel Receptionist (uncredited)
Shit Happens
Estonian
Calamari Union
Hearse Driver (uncredited)
I Hired a Contract Killer
Sunglasses Seller (uncredited)
The Worthless
Ville Alfa
Aaltra
Aaltra's Boss
VÄNÄ
2000
Huhtikuu on kuukausista julmin
Ville Alfa
Iron Horsemen
Cadillac Man
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Factory Worker Imitating Chaplin (uncredited)
Jackpot 2
1982
Rocky VI
Magazine Photographer
The Liar
Ville Alfa
Ylösnousemus
Taksikuski
Viimeiset rotannahat
1985
Self / Appearances (16)
A Special Day
Self
The Dinosaur
Self
Temples of Dreams
Self
Plankton Salesmen
Self (archive footage)
Aki Kaurismäki
Self
Bohemian Eyes
Self
Where Is Musette?
Self
Critic
Self
Il était une fois... Le Havre
himself
Léaud l'unique
Self - filmmaker
Cinéma Laika
Self
Talking with Ozu
Self
I Am Curious, Film
Self
Aki and Peter
Himself
The Saimaa Gesture
Self - Interviewer (uncredited)
Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: Aki Kaurismäki
Self
Directing (35)
Fallen Leaves
Director
Le Havre
Director
Ariel
Director
To Each His Own Cinema
Director
The Match Factory Girl
Director
Shadows in Paradise
Director
The Other Side of Hope
Director
Lights in the Dusk
Director
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Director
Drifting Clouds
Director
The Man Without a Past
Director
Calamari Union
Director
I Hired a Contract Killer
Director
The Worthless
Assistant Director
Bico
Director
Tavern Man
Director
Dirty Hands
Director
La Vie de Bohème
Director
Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet
Director
Juha
Director
Crime and Punishment
Director
The Foundry
Director
Hamlet Goes Business
Director
Visions of Europe
Director
Iron Horsemen
Assistant Director
Total Balalaika Show
Director
Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana
Director
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Director
Jackpot 2
Assistant Director
Rocky VI
Director
The Clan: Tale of the Frogs
Assistant Director
Bluesia Pieksämäen asemalla
Director
Dogs Have No Hell
Director
The Saimaa Gesture
Director
Historic Centre
Director
Writing (42)
Fallen Leaves
Writer
Le Havre
Writer
Ariel
Writer
To Each His Own Cinema
Writer
The Match Factory Girl
Writer
Shadows in Paradise
Writer
The Other Side of Hope
Writer
Lights in the Dusk
Writer
Rosso
Dialogue
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Screenplay
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Story
Drifting Clouds
Writer
The Man Without a Past
Writer
Calamari Union
Writer
I Hired a Contract Killer
Screenplay
I Hired a Contract Killer
Story
The Worthless
Dialogue
The Worthless
Writer
Bico
Writer
Tavern Man
Writer
Dirty Hands
Writer
La Vie de Bohème
Screenplay
Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet
Writer
Juha
Screenplay
Crime and Punishment
Screenplay
The Foundry
Writer
Calamari Union
Writer
Hamlet Goes Business
Screenplay
Visions of Europe
Writer
Total Balalaika Show
Writer
Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana
Writer
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Screenplay
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Story
Jackpot 2
Writer
Rocky VI
Writer
The Clan: Tale of the Frogs
Screenplay
Bluesia Pieksämäen asemalla
Writer
Dogs Have No Hell
Writer
Tilinteko
Writer
The Liar
Writer
The Saimaa Gesture
Writer
Historic Centre
Screenplay
Producing (40)
Fallen Leaves
Producer
Le Havre
Producer
Ariel
Producer
To Each His Own Cinema
Producer
The Match Factory Girl
Producer
The Other Side of Hope
Producer
Lights in the Dusk
Producer
A Stone Left Unturned
Producer
Shit Happens
Producer
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
Producer
Drifting Clouds
Producer
The Man Without a Past
Producer
Calamari Union
Producer
I Hired a Contract Killer
Producer
Bad Family
Producer
Bico
Producer
Tavern Man
Producer
La Vie de Bohème
Producer
Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet
Producer
Barzakh
Producer
Juha
Producer
Ripa Hits the Skids
Producer
Our Father…
Producer
Hamlet Goes Business
Producer
Visions of Europe
Producer
The Prodigal Son
Producer
Iron Horsemen
Producer
Total Balalaika Show
Producer
Jeanne d'Arc
Producer
Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana
Producer
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Producer
Rocky VI
Producer
Bluesia Pieksämäen asemalla
Producer
Vaiennut kylä
Producer
Dogs Have No Hell
Producer
Tilinteko
Producer
The Saimaa Gesture
Producer
Historic Centre
Producer
Macbeth
Producer
The Classic
Producer
Other Crew (27)
The Match Factory Girl
Editor
Lights in the Dusk
Editor
Rosso
Gaffer
Shit Happens
Editor
Drifting Clouds
Editor
Morena
Production Sound Mixer
Calamari Union
Editor
I Hired a Contract Killer
Editor
Helsinki, Forever
Thanks
The Worthless
Production Design
Tavern Man
Editor
Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet
Editor
Juha
Editor
The Foundry
Editor
Jean-Pierre Léaud: The Child of Cinema
Thanks
Visions of Europe
Editor
John From
Thanks
Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana
Editor
Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses
Editor
Jackpot 2
Costume Design
Jackpot 2
Production Design
Jackpot 2
Smoke Artist
Rocky VI
Editor
Whisky
Thanks
Dogs Have No Hell
Editor
Historic Centre
Editor
Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan
Gaffer